It is getting hard to count them on your fingers. More and more Chinese carmakers are widening their reach into Portugal, and this year two further names will be joining the list: Omoda and Jaecoo, both operating under Chery Automobile.
Omoda and Jaecoo both landed in Europe in 2024 and share far more than their country of origin - they also use the same platforms, rely on the same dealer networks and have committed exclusively to SUVs. Their European debut began with the Omoda 5, offered with petrol and electric powertrains, alongside the Jaecoo 7, available with plug-in hybrid and petrol options.
Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7: shared roots and an SUV-only strategy
It is worth recalling that the Omoda 5 was one of last year’s standout surprises in the Spanish market. This previously little-known model arrived, made an impact and took off - and it is still catching rivals off guard. Pairing a petrol engine with an aggressive price point helped it outpace brands such as Tesla, Jeep or FIAT in monthly sales. In 2025, its sales figures have continued to climb.
New offensive with electrification in the spotlight
And this push is nowhere near slowing down. With European Union emissions rules tightening the screws on combustion engines, Chery is stepping up the electrification of its brands.
Right now, 74% of Omoda and Jaecoo sales come from petrol-engined models - a pricing-led approach that works well in the showroom, but one that could prove costly against the CO₂ targets set in Brussels.
Omoda 9, Omoda 7 and Omoda 3: the electrified roadmap
The Omoda 9, a plug-in hybrid SUV with 449 hp and more than 149 km of electric range, is the first major move towards an electrified line-up and has already reached the European market. It will soon be joined by another plug-in hybrid, the Omoda 7 - unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show. The Omoda 5 range is also set to be strengthened with additional hybrid and electric variants.
In 2026, the Omoda 3 is expected to arrive: a compact SUV planned in three versions - combustion, plug-in hybrid and electric.
Meanwhile, the Jaecoo 5, a new compact SUV due in Europe at the start of summer, will sit below the Jaecoo 7 and is set to be offered in electric and hybrid versions.
Threat to BYD?
Omoda and Jaecoo recorded 15,799 units sold in Europe in the first quarter of 2025, according to Dataforce.
That total is a little over half of BYD’s 28,842 units, yet it still points to striking momentum. Notably, this performance has been achieved with only two models and distribution limited to seven European markets, including Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, which together account for the largest share of sales.
During 2025, Chery intends to expand into 11 more European markets, including Portugal, France, Belgium and Germany - although the name of the Portuguese importer has not yet been confirmed.
Chery’s ambitions for Omoda and Jaecoo are substantial: it expects the two brands to sell more than one million units globally by 2030.
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